[Kulture Issue] Busan, the "city of film" gains growing popularity as global filming location

Busan, the second-largest city in South Korea, is known for its port, its beaches and also as the “city of film”. Not only does Busan host the Busan International Film Festival every year, but the city is also the first city in Asia that's been designated a UNESCO Creative City of Film. Busan recently has also been gaining prominence as a global filming location. Let's find out more, with Choy Phil, assistant manager at the production support department for the Busan Film Commission, who is connecting with us from Busan. Hello Mr. Choy/Phil!

Let's begin with recent productions filmed in Busan. The Korea-U.S. co-production “Butterfly” is currently airing in Korea, following its release on Amazon Prime a few weeks earlier. Busan was one of the filming locations of the spy thriller?

Not long ago, a Hollywood actor (in a documentary supported by the Busan Film Commission) was spotted visiting Beomeosa Temple in Busan. What was that about?

What other works released this year (or that are expected to come out) were filmed in Busan?

According to your data at the Busan Film Commission, there has been a surge in the number of projects that the city of Busan supported in the first half of this year. Please give us the details and explain to us what these figures signify.

Mr. Choy / Phil, as you work at the production support department for the Busan Film Commission, are you often on the site of filming locations? Do you have any memorable episodes to share?

Why do you think is it that Busan is an appealing city to film in and what are some places that are particularly popular within Busan?

And why is it that Busan is increasingly gaining attention from abroad as a filming location? Do you think it’ll become even more popular from here on?

Thank you very much Mr. Choy / Phil for connecting with us today from the “city of film” Busan.

Thank you Walter, see you back tomorrow.